Congratulations Airbus

The larger variant of the A350 XWB, the -1000, completed its first flight today, marking the beginning of the aircraft’s flight-test program and an exciting era for Airbus.

Despite the delivery 2016 delay issues with the A350-900, caused by seat and gallery suppliers, the A350 entry into service has gone relatively smoothly for an all-new aircraft.

In the widebody market, the Rolls-Royce powered A350 is to Airbus what the A320 was in the narrowbody market. The A320 made Airbus a true competitor to the Boeing 737, just as the A350 stands to be a true rival to that widebody workhorse, the Boeing 777 (or, as I like to call it, Alan Mulally’s plane).

The -1000, in particular, with its greater seat capacity and economics, could well become the world’s next go-to widebody, although the Boeing 777X won’t make that course a walk over.

Wherever the market goes, today is a good day for Airbus. In America, Nov. 24 is our Thanksgiving holiday. But we’ve had a miserable 2016. It’s nice to see the Europeans celebrate the moment, even on an all-American day.

Enjoy these photos and video taken by Kurt Hofmann, our correspondent who was in Toulouse for the -1000’s first flight.

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